Apparatus for power flow control



v NOV. 12, 1940. 4 D, v WATERSl 2,220,983

APPARATUS PoR POWER FLow CONTROL Filed June 5, 19459 f, f /NVE/vz'ok D.V. WATERS i Arron/yay l Patented Nov. 12, 19.40

APPARATUS FOR POWER FLOW CONTROL Daniel V. Waters, South Orange, N. J.,assignor to Western Electric Company, Incorporated, New York, N. Y.,a-corporation of New York Application June s, 1939, serial No. 277,142

s claims.

y I This invention relates to an apparatus for power flow control,l andmore particularly to such an apparatus having an unusually wide range ofvalues for the ratio of input speed to output .5 speed.

With the increasing development in industry of complex mechanisms forperforming many kinds of production operations andsequences of s uchoperations it is becoming in many instances lo increasingly important,in order that similar products of a relatively wide range of dimensionsmay be handled on a single apparatusfto provide a wide range ofadjustability of the apparatus; and such will insome cases include theneed for means to adjustably vary the relative speeds of two movingelements of an apparatus. In such a case the adaptability of anapparatus to a wide range of similar products of differing dimensionsmay be limited by the capacity for adjustability cf a variable speedtransmission in themechanism, without either loss or waste of power. Forexample, the cabling machines used for making electrical 'conductorcablesare very large and costly, and considerable 4 economy can beachieved if such a machine can be used for a large variety of kinds andsizes of cable. This, however, necessitates an equally large range ofoperating speeds for the machine.

An obJect of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for powerflow control which shall be eifectiveto operate over a relatively verylarge range of values ofuthe ratio of input to output, and which shallbe reliable and simple in operation and structure. f

One embodiment of the invention may present 4a constant speed powersource driving an adjustably' variable speed transmission which in turndrives one of the two input members of a l differential gear ofplanetary type, and a second 40 constant speed power source driving theother input member of the differential device through a combinationclutch and brake means.

Other objectsand features will appear from the following detaileddescription of one embodiment thereof taken in connection with theaccompanying drawing in which the same reference numerals are appliedto' identical parts in the several gures and in which:

Fig. 1 is a partiallyvdiagrammatic view of a variable speed transmissionconstructed in aca cordance withthe invention; l

Fig. 2 is asimilar view of a modified form; and

'Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1. 'Ihe embodimentdisclosed in Fig. 1 presents a Il combinationof coactingunits, viz. a'constant speed electric motor 5, which drives the input shaft of avariable transmission device of well -known type generally indicated atI0. The output shaft of this device I0 drives one side of a planetarydifferential gearing generally indicated 6 at 30. The other side of thegearing 30 is driven by a constant speed electric motor 40 which also isconnected to a spring-set magnetic brake generally indicated at `50. Thespider of the differential 30 is geared to anoutput -shaft 6II.` `10There is .nothing to' require specific description of either of themotors 5 and 40, as there are various well known typesyof constant speedelectric motors suitable for this use.y

The device II), generally speaking, may be any 15 one of several typesof well known adjustably `variable speed transmission mechanisms. .The

one selected for illustration here andshown in principle in Fig? l3 isthat commercially known as the Graham variable speed transmission. 20

In the device I0, shown in principle in Fig. 3,

the input shaft II, which in Fig. 1 is coupled to and driven by themotor 5, carries a cam I2 having the general form of a circular diskwith one or more flat places on its periphery. A plurality g5 ofidentically similar sleeves I3v rest respectively on the flat places ofthe cam I2. In each of these sleeves I3 is -journalled vone end of oneof a plurality of friction cones I4, equispaced about the -axial line ofthe shaft II, and having their 30 other en ds journalled in a freelyrotatable spider I5., Beyond these last journals each cone has anintegraler rigidly attached pinion I6. All

' the pinions I6 mesh with an encircling internal ring gear I9 integralwith or rigidly secured to 35 the output shaft 2| of the device. Afriction ring 22 encircles and is engaged by the several friction conesI4. The ring 22 is mounted in the housing of the device to be slidablebut not 'fore vroll on/the friction ring andtheir pinions 50 I6 drivethe gear I9 and therewith theoutput shaft 2I at a speed dependent, uponthe position of the ring 22 along the'cones Il.

The principal elements of then planetary gearing gearing 'ai' are shownin y1. 'nie shaft u keys 52.

3| is driven by the output shaft of the device l0 and has a main gear 32rigidly secured thereto. The other main gear 34 is rigidly secured onthe shaft 35 which is driven by the motor 40. A plurality of planetarygearsV 36 engages both gears 32 and 34 and is mounted on a spider 31freely rotatable onthe shafts 3| and 35. 'A gear 38 rigidly secured tothe spider drives the output shaft 60 through a gear 6| thereon.Conveniently the housing' 33 of the differential Will also house thegear6l.

The magnetic brake 50 is conveniently housed within an extension of thehousing 43 of the motor 40 and mounted -in part on the rotor shaft 42 ofthe motor.

which the disks 5| are mounted in the housing 43 to be slidable thereinalong the axis of the shaft 42 but are held against rotation, as by Theother set of disks 4|, intercalated with the disks 5|, is individuallyslidable longitudinally on the shaft 42 and keyed thereto againstrotation as by keys 44. A pressure ring 55 of magnetic material issecured to the left face of the leftmost friction ring and is urged tothey right by compression springs 56. A solenoid or electromagnet 51, issuil'iciently powerful when energized to draw the-ring 55 to the leftagainst the springs 56. The solenoid is connected across two of thepower input leads 58 of the motor 40. Thus, whenever power is beingsupplied to the motor 40, the brake 50 is rendered ineffective; and,whenever the motor 40 is not being energized, the brake 50 will anchorit against rotation. A switch 59 serves to simultaneously energize ordeenergize both the solenoid 51 and the motor 40.

In the modified form shown in Fig. 2, the motors 5 and 40 andthemagnetic brake 50 are i directly or in any/'suitable manner.

omitted. Two constant speedv shafts |05 and |40 are used instead tosupply power to the apparatus, these shafts being driven by any suitablemeans (not shown). The shaft |05 is then ,cou-

pled to the input shaft of the "device I0 either 'Ihe elements I0, 30and 60 and their connections and relations are as before. On the shaft35 of the differential 30, there is mounted a combination clutch andbrake drum |5I, whose inside ange surface isk formed as one member |52of a cone clutch whose other member |53 is mounted to be slidable on`but to rotate with the shaft |40, being shifted into and out ofengagement with the member |52 by means of the yoke lever arm |54 of thelever |55. The Alever |55 also has a horizontal arm |56 proportioned tostand adjacent the outer flange face of the drum |5|,`and carrying abrake shoe |51 which engages a peripheral brake member |58 on the flangeof the drum |5| when the clutch members |52 and |53 are disengaged andis disengaged from the brake member |50 when the clutch is engaged. Thusthe device generally indicated at |50 plays substantially the same rolein Fig. 2 as does the device50 in Fig. 1.

To illustrate the operation, let it be assumed that both motors 5 and 40in Fig. 1, or both shafts |05 and |40 in Fig. 2, are running at constantspeed and that the unit l0 in either case is adjusted by means of thehandle 24 to give maximum output on theshaft 2|. Let it further beassumed that these elements are so proportioned and driven that the twoshafts 3| and 35 are running at equal speeds and in the same direction.The pinions 36 then do not rotate but 'Ihis brake 50 comprisesessentially two intcrcalated sets of friction disks, of

revolve bodily and carry the spider or cage 31 at the same speed as theshafts 3| and 35, and so drive the gear 30 and hence the gear 6| andthe-shaft 60 at maximum speed. If now the device.|0 be adjusted to drivethe shaft 3| more slowly while the shaft 35 is to run at the same speedas before, the spider 31, and hence the gear 38 will run at a speedhalf-way between those of the shafts 3| and 35. Since a variabletransmission such as |0 may be adjusted smoothly to deliver from itsmaximum to zero speed at the shaft 3|, such adjustment permits ofadjusting the speed of the gear 38 and hence ofthe shaft 60 to any valuebetween its maximum and half its maximum.

To cover the range from half maximum speed, the motor 40 is stopped orthe .clutch |52, |53 is disengaged, and the shaft 35 is locked to bestationary by means of the magnetic brake 50 or the brake' |51, |58; andthe device I0 is adjusted to deliver maximum speed at the shaft 3|. Theshaft 60 is then-driven at half maximum speed. Any speed intermediatebetween this and zero then can be obtained by adjusting the device I0 asbefore. Thus with both motors 5 and 40 running or both shafts |05 and|40 running and coupled, any speed of the shaft 60 from maximum to onehalf maximum can be obtained byL adjustment at 24; and with the motor 40stopped l that of the motor 5 or of the shaft |05; while the maximumpower delivered to the shaft 60 is that of both motors added together.This is the case when the device I0 is adjusted to deliver maximum speedat the shaft 3| and both shafts 3| and 35 are being driven. Hence thedevice I0 is never called upon to carry more than half of the maximumpower transmitted, since preferably the power capacity of the two motorsis the same. This is a point of much importance, for the bulk, mass andinertia of a variable speed device such as |0 or an equivalent thereofwhich depends upon a continuously variable friction device for itsfunction, increase more rapidly than in direct proportion as its powertransmitting capacity is increased. Roughly speaking, the bulk and massof the unit I0 and its parts will be much less than half of that neededwere al1 the maximum power required to be delivered through it.

It will be evident that,l if desired, the output shaft of' the device I0may be coupled to the `shaft 60 instead yof to the shaft 3|, in whichcase theshaft 3| becomes the output shaft of the apparatus. Similarly bycoupling the motor 40 to the shaft 60 instead .of to the shaft 35, theshaft 35 may be made the output shaft of the apparatus.

It is important to note that whenever the apparatus is in operation, themotor 5 or the shaft |05 is always running at full and unvarying speed,while the motor 40 or the clutch member |5| is either totally stationaryor is also running at top and unvarying speed. No power is Wasted at anytime by running either motor at less than its normal rate.

The embodiments disclosed are illustrative and may be modified anddepartedfrom in various ways without departing from the spirit and scopeof the invention as pointed outin and limited Y solely by the appendedclaims.v

' sion means to drive means, a stationary locking member, andmeans thedifferential gearing vto the second power ential gearing unit to drivethe same at the full What is claimed is:

1. A power iiow control apparatus comprising \a diierential gearing unithaving two powerinput members and one power output member, an adjustablyvariable speed power transmission means coupled to one of the powerinput members to drive the same, a constant speed power supply meanscoupled to the variable transmissionffmeans to drive the same,atconstant speed and thereby the input member coupled thereto at anadjustably variable and otherwise constant speed, a second constantlspeed power supply means, a locking means, and means to alternativelycause the second power input member of unit to bedriven by the secondpower supply means at the full constant speed thereof or to be heldstationary by the locking means.

2. A power flow control apparatus comprising a differential gearing unitput members and one poweroutput member, an adjustably variable speedpower et on means coupled to one of the power inputmembers to drive thesame, a constant speed power supply means coupled to the variabletransmisthe same at constant speed and thereby the input member coupledthereto at an adjustably variable and otherwise constant speed, aconstant speed electric motor coupled input member of te difierconstantspeed of the motor, and an electromagnetic locking means also coupled tothe second power input member to hold the same stationary,

the said electromagnetic locking means being electrically connected tothe electricalpower supply circuit of the motor so that wlien the motoris energized to drive the input member the locking means is inhibited toact and whe ithe motor is' not energized the locking means is fiective.

'3. A power flow control apparatus comprising a diierential gearing unithaving two power input members and one power output member, an

adjustably variable speed power transmission means coupled toone of thepower input members to drive the same, aconstant speed power supplymeans coupled to the variable transmission means to ve the same' atconstant speed and thereby the input member coupled thereto at anadjustably variable and otherwise constant speed, a second constantvspeed power Asupply to alternatively, couple the lsecond power inputmember of the diierential gearing to the second power supply means to bedriven thereby at constant speed while uncoupling the input from thestationary locking member or to uncouple the said input member from thesaid power suppl! means while coupling the said input member vto thestationary locking member to be held stationary thereby.

4. A power iiow control apparatus comprising av imit having two powerinput member. an addifferential gearing members and onepower outputhaving two power injustable variable speed power transmission meanscoupled to one of the power input Amembers to drive the same, a constantspeed power supply means coupled to the variable transmission means todrive the same at constant speed and thereby the input membencoupledthereto at an adjustably variable and otherwise constant speed, a secondconstant speed power supply means substantially equal in power and speedto the rst power Vsupply means, a locking means, and'means toalternatively cause the second power input member of the differentialgearing unitA to oe driven by the second power supply means4 at the fullconstant speed thereof orto be held stationaryby the put members and onepower output member, an

adjustably variable speed power transmission means coupled to one of thepower` input members to drive the same, a constant speed power supplymeans coupled to the variable transmission means to drive the same atconstant speed and thereby the input member coupled thereto at anadjustably variable and otherwise constant speed, a constant speedelectric motor coupled to the second power input member of thedifierential gearingunit to drive the same at'the full constant speed ofthe motor and substantially equal in power and speed to the said powers'upply means, and an electromagnetic locking means also coupled to thesecond power input member to hold the same stationary, the saidelectromagmeans coupled to the variable transmission means to drive thesame Aat constant speed and thereby the input member coupled thereto atan adjustably variable and otherwise constant speed, a second `constantspeed power supply means substantially equal in power and speed fto therst power supply means, ,a stationary locking member, and doubleVactingl second power input member of the dierential gearing to thesecond powersupply means to be driven thereby at constant speed whileuncoupling the input from the stationary locking`member or to uncouplethe 1 saidvinp'utmember from the said power supply means while couplingthe said input member to` the stationary locking member to be heldstationary thereby. DANIEL V. WATERS.

clutch and brake means to alternatively couple the energized the

